Suzymk,
When I read your words that your job makes you who you are, and that it gives you purpose, I think about how I felt the same way.
What gives you purpose is your beautiful giving of yourself, to others. It does not end, when you no longer do that job. You have the same soul. God gave us all a purpose, based on how he made us, and what He wanted each of us to do. His plan for your life may take you in different directions. Different Than what you may have planned for yourself. The thing is, His plans are better than any plan we could imagine for ourselves. You see when I could no longer keep working, after 33 years in my field. I felt that I was of no use to anyone, as I am now. I was suppose to do what I was doing till I retired, if then. It took me a long time to learn that I am still that person that encourages others, to help them to move on, when I had to lay one off. I encouraged that person that they had a great talent, but it was not here. I could not bear knowing I had to sit in front of someone and say you don't belong here. I could not sleep the night before. I did not realize, until my young daughter said to me. Mom, who are you firing today? I was like what? She said, your are wearing your Grey pinstripe suit. You always where it when you are firing someone. I never realized. Now, I can't forget. LOL! The difficult part of my job was giving someone bad news, other than termination. I wore my heart on my sleeve. I had to show them their self worth as I hurt them with the reality of something that is hurtful, and turning their world upside down. I had to be me, in this job. I am still that same person. I am just not doing it where I thought I believed, that it was in this job, I would be till At least, till I decided it was time to retire, or maybe semi-retire, so I was still in that world. God gave me the gift, He felt suited for who I was. How He created me to go with His plan and purpose for my life.
Don't feel left out. You are never left out, when you are living in God's will.

Lynda

🙏🙏❤️🐾🐾❤️🙏🙏

I worked with Fibro for 40 years even though my doctors wanted me to apply for SSDI, I wouldn't because I didn't want fibromyalgia to win. However, when these new super strong fragrance clothes detergents came out, my daily migraines lost me my job. There was no way to win the battles because I'd take an eletriptan for one migraine, beat it back, then someone else would come in my office and set off another. Then the huge amount of triptans in my system caused fainting spells to start. It was a mess and I was forced onto medical leave, and was never able to return to my old job where I'd worked for over 22 years. It took years to find my balance in life again, meditation helped me to begin again. Now, I work at home. I run it just like I ran offices as an office manager. Everything is planned out every week, keeping in mind that any day a migraine can put me down. But by planning meals in advance, and when to use leftovers or freeze them, I can balance which days I will do heavy cleaning vs light cleaning. Makes the weeks go easier. So yeah, in MY mind...I work!!! I just don't get paid much. Lol. But I miss all my work friends. They all abandoned me since I can't be around fragrances anymore....so I've lived in isolation since I was forced out of my job in 2015.

I don't work I have applied for disability

I work full time Monday to Friday. Since 2018 my fibromyalgia has gone worse. Plus lumber spinal Stenosis. I am very tired from when I'm up from morning to night when in bed. Fatigue and exhaustion, back pain and all over aches. I struggle with the pain but don't have a choice as my kids are still young they need us 2.. my husband and I work full-time to keep up with responsibilities. Work gives me purpose and dignity. I plan to go part time some day but I really need to plan it well. Life is a challenge but with Hope and Faith I pull through. 🙏🏾

I was diagnosed with a disability by the Quebec government recently. Now I am waiting for the uncollected amounts. I haven't worked since I was 60. Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and chronic pain, etc. are my daily lot. But I keep my spirits up as best I can. Have a good day